Loose-leaf binder.



A. WISSLBR.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27,1911.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

INVENTOR OLPH WISSLER Mvwessas THE ADRRIS PETERS c0 PHOTO-LITHU,WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES rarnnrjorricn.

ADOLPH WISSLER, 0F sT. Louis, MIssouni.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER? To all whom it may concern If 11 Be it known that I,ADOL'1 'LWISSLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis,Missouri, have invented a "certain new and useful ImprovementinLoose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a perspective view of onelform of a base or back plate toWhichmy' improved binder is applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of asecond form of base or back adapted to receive certain forms of myimproved loose leaf binder. Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in sectionof the form of binder which is applied to' the form of base or backplate shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4

is a sectional view of a portion of thebase or back plate with one ofthe binders of the type illustrated in Fig. 3 applied to said base orback'plate. Fig. 5 is a plan view partly in section of the type ofbinder shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view partly in sectionof the type of binder which is applied to the form of base or back plateillustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail section showing the form ofbinder seen in Fig. 6 applied to theformofbase seen 'in Fig. 2. Fig.8.is across section taken approximately on the line 8"8 of Fig. 7. Figs.9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 1.4 are elevations partly in section of "modifiedforms of my improved loose leafbinder.

Fig. 15 is a top plan View of a portion of a back plate which isparticularlyv designed to receive the form of device shown in Fig.

10. Fig. 16 is a top plan view of a portion of a modified form of. theback plate.

My invention relates to loose leaf binders of the type wherein a pair ofcurved arms or hooks are utilized to form a ring or loop, and which ringor loop engages through openings suitably formed in the loose leafsheets or cards.

The principal obj ects of my invention are,

first; to provide simple andinexpensive' devices composed of few parts,which can be readily assembled and adjusted, to receive and binddifferent sized sheets or cards, or sheets or cards having the bindingholes or apertures located at different distances apart; second, toprovide back plates upon Specification of Letterslate nt Patented Sept.29, 1914. Application filed March 27,1911." Serial No. 617,148. I

- which the binding loops or rings can be adjus'tablyseated; and third,to fulcrum or pivot theTarms or hooks forming the rings or loops of thebinder upon base plates, so that theinherent resiliency of the metalforming 'saidarms or hooks and base plate is utilized for exerting aspring like move ment to throw the arms or hooks open and closed, andfor maintaining said arms orhooks in both closed and open positions,thereby doing away with the springs usually employed in connection withdevices of the character-to whichflmy invention pertains.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain features ofnovelty hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Inthe construction of my improved loose leaf binder as illustrated inFigs. 1,3, 4:

and 5,1 designates a center back or base plate which is particularlydesigned to receive the binders hereinafter described and whichmetalback or base' 'plate is applied to the holder for the loose leafsheets or cards, which holder is, usually composed, of a pair of heavycard board or metal covers joined by a flexible. section'such as clothorleather. The platel is provided adjacent each endwith a row of U-shapedslits 2,

and the material within said slits when bent upward forms tongues 3,which are adaptedto be bent over the ends of the binder baseplatesapplied to the back 1, and by forming a member of these slits 2, aseriesof tongues are formed, whereby the binder base plates can be selectivelylocated at different" points on said back 1. The back plate 1 is alsoprovided adjacent each end "with rows of perforations 2* adapted toreceive rivets or like fastening devices, utilized for fixing the baseplates of the binders to said back. l designates the binder base plate,which is preferably formed of. thin sheetmetal, the centralportion ofwhich is stamped or pressed upward to form an inverted U-shaped rib 5,the central portion of which is cut awayas designated by 6,.and theupper outer corners of said rib being cut away as 'desigriatedby 7. Whenthebase plates 4: are located onthe plate 1, they are secured thereto bybending up a pair of the lips 3 so as to engage over the ends of theplate 4:, or by means of. rivets which pass through suitable aperturesin said base plate and throughthe apertures 2 When it is desired tochange the position of either one or both ofthe base plates, this can bereadily 'these inwardly bent lower ends are notched as designated by 9to form bearings which are fulcrnmed or bear upon transversely disposedpins 10, the, ends of which are seated in theside'walls of the invertedU-shaped rib 5. The end of the inwardly bent lower portion of one of thearms or nooks 8 is provided with a transversely disposed shaped or knifeedged bearing 12, and the corresponding end of the opposite inwardlybent lower portion is provided with a concave face 13, against 'whlchthe knife edged bearing engages, and when the loop formed by the arms orhooks 8 is closed, as shown by solid lines in Fig. 3, the bearing pointof the knife edge 12 against thecorresponding concave face 13 occupies apoint just below the horizontal plane occupied by the fulcrum or pivotpoints of the arms on the pins .10. The inherent resiliency of the metalforming the base plate 4: and in the metal forming the lower portions ofthe walls of-the inverted U-gshaped rib 5 which resiliency is materiallyincreased by reason of the transverse slot6 in said rib 5, resists theoutward pressure of the inwardly bent lower portions of said arms orhooks 8 upon the pins 10 as said armsor hooks are swung toward; and awayfrom one another, and thus asthe bearing-point between the edge 12' andface 13 passes above andbelow a center line. the arms or hooks 8 will bethrown open and closed with a spring like motion, and said arms .orhooks will be firmly held in both open and closed positions. "When thearms or hooks are swung apart into open position the inner ends of theinwardly bent lower portions bear against the upper portions of the rib5, immediately adjacent the transverse slot 6, and thus'the openingmovement of said arms or hooks is limited, see dotted lines Fig. 3.

structed of a strip of thin metal, the side edgesof which are bentupward and inward In the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 2, 6 7and 8, the back plate 1 is .con-

to form continnous'retaining lips 14 and formed in the top faces of thisstrip and extending the entire length thereof is a series oftransversely disposed shallow teeth or corrugations 15. In this form ofthe device a thin metal plate16 forms the baseplate of the binder loop,said plate being of such size as to fit on top of the base with ,its

'cates with the transverse slot 18.

side edges beneath the lips 14. The central portion of the plate 16 isstamped or pressed upward to form an inverted U-shaped rib 17, thecentral portion of which is slotted transversely as designated by 18,and the outer upper corners of said rib being cut away as designated by19. An opening 20 is formed through the plate 16 at the center of therib l7, and which opening con'nnuni- The binder loop or ring in thisform of the device comprises a pair of mating curved arms 21, the lowerends of which are notched as designated by 22 to form bearings whichreceive pivot pins 23, the ends of which are seated in the side walls ofthe inverted U- shaped rib 17. The meeting lower ends of the arms 21 areprovided with transversely disposed semi-circular bearin gs 2-1, andjournaled therein is a pin 25, the ends of which are provided with smalldisks 26. The

arms 21 just described fulcrum upon the pins 23 during the opening andclosing movement, and the pin 2=1 ournaled between the lower ends ofsaid arms 21 moves above and below the plane occupied by the centersopen and closed positions. YVhen the arms .21 are closed, as shown inFigs. 7 and S, the' transverse pin 25 is in its lowermost position, andthe disks 26 on the edges thereof engage in a pair of the groovesbetween the teeth or corrugations 15 on the plate 1, and therefore, thebase plate 16, which carries the arms 21 is locked or anchored to saidback or base plate 1. When the upper parts of the arms are swung apartto open the loop, the pin 25 is. carried upward a short distance,thereby drawing the disks 26 upward away from the corrugations or teeth15, and the base plate 16 can now be moved lengthwise and adjusted tothe desired position on the back or base plate 1.

In Fig. 16 the base plate is shown provided with a row of openings 15adapted to receive the disks 26 when theloops or arms 21 are closed, andwhich openin are of any desired shape.

It will be readily understood that two or more loops composedott' thearms 8 or 21 are used in connection with the backs or base plates 1 and1*.

In the modified form of the device seen in Fig. 9, the lower ends of thearms 27 forming the binding loop are notched and fulcrumed on a pair ofpins 28, which are placed comparatively close to one another, and closeto the transverse slot in the center of the base plate, and in this formof the device ears 29 are bentlaterally from the ends of the housing orrib formed on the center of the base plate to form stops to limit theoutward swing or opening move ment of said arms 27. i i i In the form ofthe device shown Fig. 10 the lower ends of'the arms 30 forming the loopare journaled upon pins as herein before described,and positionedbetween the lower ends of said arms 30 is a small transversely disposedroller 81, which forms a bearing between said lower ends, and saidroller moves over and MElO'W the plane occupied by the centers of thepivotpins as the arms 30 are opened or closed. v

The back plate which. is particularly designed to receive the formof'the device shown in Fig. 10 is illustrated in Fig. 15 and said backplate comprises a body portion 80 in which is formed a longitudi nallydisposed slot 30", and the edges of said slot are notched as designatedby 30% When the binding devices of the type shown in Fig. 10 are appliedto the back plate 30 and arms forming said binding devices are closedthe lower ends of said arms engage in an opposite pairof the notches80,thus locking said devices to the plate 30. When the arms are swungopen the lower ends thereof are disengaged from the notches 30 and thusthe binding devices are .adjustably positioned on the back plate 30.

In the form of device seen in Fig. 11, the

lower ends of the arms 32 forming the loops are notched in their-outerfaces, and seated in these notches are the upper ends of ears 33, bentupward from the base plate, thus forming fulcrums for said arms 32. Inthis construction a pin 3-1 is mounted between the lower ends of thearms 33, and the ends of said pin 34 is provided with disks which wherethe rib is provided with only one slot.

In Fig. 18 the arms 88 forming the loop are pivotally mounted attheirlower ends on pins 39, and the lower end of one ofthe k arms is providedwith a knife edge bearing whlch engages, a concave face formedon thecorresponding end of the opposite arm.

In the form of the device shown in Fig.

14 the transverse rib on the base. plate is done away with and the lowerends of the arms forming the loop are pivotally mounted on pins 40, theends of which are seated in ears l1, projecting upwardly from and;preferably formed integral with the base plate. i 1

.Looseleaf bindersfof my improved construction are comparatively simple,can be cheaply manufactured are easily and quickly adjusted soas toaccommodate" different sized sheets of paper or cards, and the baseplates carrying the binding loopsf can be readily locked to or releasedfrom the back plates with the same motion required for (opening andclosing the loops and the hindingloops of thedevicecan be easilyopenedor closed by merely exerting a pull or pressure upon thearms themselvesand without the manipulation of any auxiliary springs or lookingdevices. All of the binding loops on the baseplate can be openedsimultaneously by merely swinging the covers of the binder back, andexerting suflicient pressure on the leayesor cardsto swing the upperportions of the loops apart. The adjust- ;ability of the'binding loopsupon the metal back platesisfa verydesirable feature for :looseleafbinders, inasmuch as the binding loops can be easily and quickly shiftedtoward and away from one another to suit and accommodate theperforations formed in the sheets or cards tob'e bound. 7

The binding loops are constructed so as to be interchangeable and can beapplied to i all forms of back plates,and if desiredthe base ,plates canbe fastened to the back jplatespermanentl by riveting'or turningup thetongues formed on the back plate. By this improved construction theloops and back plates can be packed separately in compact form, andsuchconstruction permits booksto be rnade up with the back plates attachedthereto, a11d said' books can. be

packed fiat "so as to occupy comparatively little space.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the form and size ofthe various parts of my improved device may be made andsubstituted forthose herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of myinvention, the scope of which isSel "forth in the appended claims.

I claim: a y 1. In a loose leaf binder,the combination with a backplate, of abase plate adapted to be selectively located atdifierentpoints on said back plate, a pair of arms fulcrumed on the base plate,-which armsunite to form a binding loop, the lower ends of which armsoccupy a plane below theplane occupied by the fulcrum points of saidarms when the same are closed.

2. In alooselleaf binder, the combination. with a back-plate, of aybaseplate adapted to be selectively located at different points on saidbackplate, a pair of armsfulcrumed onthe base plate, which arms unite toform a binding loop, the lower ends of which arms occupya plane abovethe plane occupied by the fulcrums of the arms when the same are in openpositions;

3, In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a base plateiadapted to bepositioned on the back plate, which base plate is provided with anupwardly bent portion that is slotted transversely at its center, and apair of arms fulerumed. on the upwardly bent portion of the base plateon opposite. sides of the slot therein, which arms are adapted to uniteto'form a binding loop.

4. In a looseleafbinder, the combination witha back plate, of a baseplate-adapted to armsfunite to form a binding loop, and a bearing memberinterposed between the lower ends "of said arms.

' 6. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a ;pair of arms which uniteto form a binding loop, a base plate upon which the. arms are fulcrumed,and which base plate is adapted to be adjustably positioned on the backplate; Y

7. In a looseleaf binder, abackplate, a

base plate adapted to be adjusted in position upon said back plate, apair ofarms fulcrumed on the baseplate, which arms unite to form abinding loop, and which arms co- .operate with: the base plate to.lockthe same in adjusted position onthe back plate when saidarmsjare closed.I i I j 8. In a loose-leaf binder, a base plate provided withtaninverted U shaped portion, a pair of arms which. unite. to form abinding loop and the lower ends of whicharms occupy. andarefulcrumed inthe inverted U shaped portion of the base plate.

In aloose-leaf binder, a base plate having an inverted Ll-shapedport-ion which is,

transversely slotted .and a pair of arms which unite to form a bindingloop, the lower portions of whicharms are fulcrumed in the inverted.U-shaped portion of said base plate. 7

10. Ina loose leaf binder, aback plate, a base plate adjustablypositioned on. said back plate, apair of arms fulcrumed on the baseplate, which arms unite to form a bind ing'loop, and means actuated bysaid arms for engaging the" back plate to lock the base plate theretowhen the .arms are closed.

. 11. In aloose leaf binder, a back plate, a base plate adjustablypositionedthereon, a pair of arms fulcrumed on the base plate, whicharms unite to form abinding loop, and means cooperatingwith the bindngloop for engaging the back plate to lock the base plate thereon when thearms .are closed.

12. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a

base plate adapted to be adjustably positioned on said back plate, whichbase plate is provided with bearings on opposite sides of its transversecenter, arms fulcrumed in said bearings, which arms unite to form abinding loop, and means whereby the base plate is locked in position onthe back plate when the arms are closed.

13. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a base plate adjustablypositioned thereon, a pair of arms fulcrumed on the base plate, whicharms unite to form a binding loop, and means carried by said arms andmovable therewith for locking the base plate to the back plate, andwhich locking means is disengaged from the back plate when the armsoccupy anopen position.

14. I11 a loose-leaf binder, the combination with a back plate of anadjustable base plate positioned upon said back plate and provided witha pair of upright, parallel walls, pins seated in said walls, and a pairof arms fulcrumed upon said pins which arms unite to form a bindingloop.

15. The combination with a back plate, of a base plate adjustablymounted thereon, a pair of arms fulcrumed on the base plate, which armsunite to form a binding loop, and means on the lower ends of said armsbelow the fulcrumed points thereof for engaging the back plate to lockthe base plate in its adjusted position thereon.

16. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with a back plate, of a baseplate adjustably positioned thereon, a pair of arms fulcrumed to thebase plate, which arms unite to form a binding loop, and means wherebythe base plate is locked to the back plate when the arms are closed.

17. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a base plate adjustablymounted on said back plate, a pair of arms fulerumed on said base plate,which arms unite to form a binding loop, a bearing member interposedbetween the lower ends of said arms, which bearing member moves aboveand below the plane occupied by the fulerums of the arms when said armsare opened and closed.

' 18. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a base adjustably mounted onsaid back plate, a pair of arms which unite to form a binding loop, pinsin the base on which the arms are fulcrumed, and the lower ends of whicharms move above and below the plane occupied by the pins when the loopis opened andclosed.

19. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a resilient base plate adjustably positioned 011 the back plate, which base plate is provided witha pair of oppositely arranged bearings upwardly projecting, and a pairof separable binding loops fulcrumed on said bearings so as to. form atoggle joint between their fulcrums.

20. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a

resilient base plate adjustably mounted thereon, which base plate isprovided witha pair of upwardly projecting bearings spaced apart, saidbase plate being provided with an opening between said bearings and armsful crnmed on said bearings, so as to form a toggle joint between their7 fulcrums, and which arms unite to form a binding loop.

21. In a loose leaf binder, a resilient base,

plate having a pair of projections spaced apart, there being an openinginthe base plate between said projections and a pair of plate, whichprojections are spaced apart and separated by an opening in said baseplate, a bearing on each projection, and arms mounted on sald bearingsso as to form a toggle joint between their fulcrums, and whlch armsunite to form a blndlng loo n In a loose leaf binder the combination ofa back plate ofia base adjustably posi tioned on said back plate, aseparable binding loop carried by the base and means carried andactuated by said binding loop whereby the base is locked to the backplate.

V 24. In a loose leaf binder the combination with a back plate of a baseadjustably positioned thereon, a separable bindin loop carriedlby thebase, and means carried by said loop for engaging the back plate to lockthe base in its adjusted position.

25. A loose leaf binder having in combination a base plate provided withcorrugations, a pair ofhalfrings slidably connected with said base plateand arranged together to form a toggle joint and a member projectableinto, any one of the recesses formed by the corrugations by the halfrings closing and lifted out of the recesses by the half rings opening.

26. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate,

a base member adapted to be, adjusted in position on the back plate,"apair of half rings fulcrumed on the base member and arranged together toform a toggle joint, and means whereby the base member is locked to theback rings-are closed. l i

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my plate when said half 1signature in the presence of two witnesses, V

this 24th day of March, 1911.

Witnesses MFP. SMITH,

J. HUTTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, Washington; D. 0.? r l AnoLrn WIssLnnT a

